Improved domestic stoves to enhance energy efficiency and reduce consumption of wood & organic matter, Bangladesh, 2012.
In Bangladesh every year more than 39 million tons of traditional fuel e.g. wood, straw, leaves, dried cow dung etc. are used for cooking and other purposes, and the figures are rising due to population growth. The traditional stoves used in rural Bangladesh however are very inefficient devices. Experiments have shown that these stoves only use 5-15 % of the total heat energy, while the rest goes wasted. Furthermore, they emit poisonous gases, creating health hazards to users, especially children and elders, and polluting the environment.
To stop inefficient use of valuable fuels and to create healthy and pollution-free environment, the Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD) of the Bangladesh Council for Science and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has developed improved stoves suitable for household level use. These types of stoves can save 50-70 percent fuels compared to traditional ones, thereby increasing their energy efficiency. The broader use of improved stoves is a critical contribution to also save on wood and organic matter otherwise used for cooking.